Gascoyne, The Sandal Wood Trader eBook

The crew looked on in moody silence. They knew
that their lives were imperiled; but they felt that
they had no resource! No one dared to address
the silent, stern man who stood like an iron statue
at the helm the whole of that night. Towards
morning, he steered out from among the dangerous coral
reefs, and ran south straight before the wind.

Then Corrie summoned up courage, and, going aft to
Gascoyne, looked up in his face and said:

“You’re searching for Henry, I think?”

“Yes, boy, I am,” answered the pirate,
and a gleam of kindliness crossed his face for a moment;
but it was quickly chased away by a look of deep anxiety,
and Corrie retired.

Now that the danger of the night was over, all the
people on board became anxious to save Henry, or ascertain
his fate; but although they searched the ocean far
and wide, they saw not a vestige of him or of the
Wasp. During this period Gascoyne acted like a
bewildered man. He never quitted the helm night
or day. He only ate a biscuit now and then when
it was brought to him, and he did not answer when he
was spoken to.

Every one felt sympathy with the man who seemed to
mourn so deeply for the lost youth.

At last Montague went up to him and said, in a gentle
voice: “I fear that Henry is gone.”

Gascoyne started as if a sword had pierced him.
For one moment he looked fiercely in the young captain’s
face; then an expression of the deepest sadness overspread
his countenance as he said: “Do you think
there is no hope?”

“None,” said Montague. “I grieve
to give pain to one who seems to have been an intimate
friend of the lad.”

“He was the son of my oldest and best friend.
What would you advise, Mr. Montague?”

“I think—­that is to say, don’t
you think—­that it would be as well
to put about now?”

Gascoyne’s head dropped on his chest, and for
some moments he stood speechless, while his strong
hands played nervously with the tiller that they had
held so long and so firmly. At last he looked
up and said, in a low voice: “I resign
the schooner into your hands, Mr. Montague.”

Then he went slowly below, and shut himself up in
his cabin.

Montague at once put down the helm, and, pointing
the schooner’s prow northward, steered for the
harbor of Sandy Cove.

CHAPTER XXV.

SURLY DICK THE RESCUE.

We must turn aside here for a short time to follow
the fortunes of the Talisman.

When that vessel went in chase of the Foam, after
her daring passage across the reefs, she managed to
keep her in view until the island was out of sight
astern. Then the increasing darkness caused by
the squall hid the two vessels from each other, and
before the storm passed away the superior sailing
qualities of the Foam carried her far beyond the reach
of the cruiser.